Another key factor in identifying a Digital Vault should be its ability to mimic all existing security processes and procedures in the organisation for handling sensitive information. For example, most organisations will have clearly defined policies and procedures defining how sensitive physical items are handled. For example, who has access to the physical vault, and the security boxes? Are individuals allowed to access on their own, or is a dual control mechanism in place, for example dual keys? Does staff have to be authorized to enter, and are there times of day when access is permitted. These and many more procedures are found in organisations, and a Digital Vault must be able to address these procedures as is. It is not advisable to try and redefine policies and procedures to fit technology – the technology has to fit.

A digital vault by its very nature is going to provide some standard services to ensure that its contents are protected, such as being a long-term repository, highly secured regardless of overall network security and regardless of the physical topology of the network. It must offer an effective way to protect and control critical information, and it allows an organisation to focus its defense resources to a vault at any location. It is easier for an organisation to defend one point effectively that to try and defend a complete network.


The Digital Network Vault is also a secure storage area, but should not be confused with secure storage. In much the same way as a physical vault will reside within a building, the digital vault can utilize corporate storage systems. The Vault protects the information when it resides inside the Vault, and the data is secured from all major security risks over a network environment.